Sulforaphane On Cadmium Exposured Mice Spermatogenic Function Intervention

[Background] Cadmium(Cd) is a severe environmental pollutant can be absorbed by digestive tract and skin, with multiple organ toxicity, cadmium can induce the organism to produce large amounts of reactive oxygen free radicals and form the oxidative stress, and induce a series of lipid peroxidation, cause the imbalance of antioxidant physique. Sulforaphane sulforaphane(SFN) is an organic sulfur compound, is one of the most efficient antioxidant by now, can effectively reduce the oxidative stress and tissue damage.[Objective] The protective effect of sulforaphane on the reproductive function of male mice exposed to cadmium via Nrf2-ARE pathway.[Methods] 60 healthy clean grade male Kunming strain mice were randomly divided into 4 groups:blank control group(H2O i.p.), cadmium chloride group(2.3 mg/kg CdC12 i.p.), radish sulforaphane group (10 mg/kg SFN i.p.), Cd+ radish sulforaphane group(10 mg/kg SFN i.p.;2.3 mg/kg CdC12 i.p.), respectively, continuous administration for 10 d, and examined the changes on the structure and function of the mice’s testis, malondialdehyde(MDA), glutathione(GSH) and total superoxide enzyme(SOD) activity changes. Using relative fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot to detect the testicular tissue of nuclear factor E2 related factor 2(Nrf2) and its target gene glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) and heme oxygenase 1(HO-1), gamma glutamyl cysteine synthetase(y-GCS) and quinone reductase 1 (NQO1) mRNA and protein levels.[Results] 1. Cadmium presented certain destructive function on testicular tissue structure in mice, impacted the physiological function and sulforaphane presented on function on structure and function of testis in mice, sulforaphane presented certain protective effect on testicular tissue structure of mice poisoned by cadmium.2. Compared with the control group, cadmium significantly reduced the GSH content and T-SOD activity(p<0.01), and significantly increased the content ofMDA (p<0.01) in the testis of mice. Compared with the blank group of sulforaphane significantly increased the GSH content and the activity of T-SOD(p<0.05), no significant difference in the content of MDA(p>0.05). Cd+sulforaphane group significantly increased GSH content and SOD activity(p<0.01) compared with cadmium group, significantly reduced the expression ofMDA (p<0.01).3. Compared to the normal mice, Cd reduced the mouse testis of Nrf2 and its downstream target gene mRNA and protein level (p<0.01, p<0.05), sulforaphane improves the Nrf2 and its downstream target gene mRNA and protein level (p<0.01, p<0.05), and cadmium group compared to Cd+Sulforaphane group significantly improves the Nrf2 and its downstream target gene mRNA and protein level (p<0.01,p<0.05).[Conclusion] Cadmium could reduce the spermatogenic function in testis, weaken the antioxidant capacity in testicular tissue and caused oxidative damage, and sulforaphane can antagonize cadmium induced injury. Sulforaphane could regulate the downstream of the Nrf2 to. regulate the antioxidant and detoxifying enzyme expression levels, and active the Nrf2, suggesting that Nrf2 pathway is involved in endogenous stress defense mechanisms induced by cadmium.